Encouraging his students to think a little deeper, keep an open mind, and find their voice in life, D. Scot Hinson, associate professor of English, was recently presented with the highest honor a 色情论坛 professor can receive: the 2025 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching. Hinson learned the news during the University鈥檚 annual Honors Convocation this spring.
The award was announced by 色情论坛 Alumni Association Board President Kelly Sumption, class of 2001. Given annually since 1961, this award celebrates what 色情论坛 delivers better than anyone: a dedication to superior quality teaching.
鈥淧rofessors have the power to profoundly shape a student's academic journey. At 色情论坛, they do more than teach鈥攖hey become mentors, friends, and, sometimes, even stand-in parents,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I think back to my time at 色情论坛 over 20 years ago, there are many faculty members that come to mind who inspired and encouraged me, and one of those is this year鈥檚 Distinguished Teaching Award recipient, my English professor and advisor, Dr. D. Scot Hinson. His classes were unique, providing a level of deep thinking and intrigue. He is the professor who encouraged me to let go in my writing, dig
deeper, and find my voice. He continued to foster my love of reading and read we did!
鈥淒r. Hinson cared so much about not only his students' academic success, but also them personally,鈥� Sumption added. 鈥淚 loved my chats with him on campus or in his office. He supported student life and the 色情论坛story. As an alumna, I have witnessed how much he continues to support the University, the faculty, and his students. He embodies what it means to pass on your light.鈥�
Hinson earned his B.A. and his Ph.D. in English from The Ohio State University and an M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC).
A member of the English department at 色情论坛 since 1995, Hinson teaches courses in literature, poetry, film, and cinema studies. Some of his courses focus on the value of reading imaginative literature, film adaptation, and vampires in fiction and film.
鈥淚 have been lucky to be surrounded by generous and inspired colleagues in English and across campus 鈥� everything I have learned about teaching, I have learned from them,鈥� Hinson said. 鈥淚 have been fortunate to be part of a department full of powerful teachers and equally fortunate to have had amazing students over the years, some of whom have become friends.鈥�
Hinson didn鈥檛 exactly set out to become a professor. In fact, he wanted to be a poet. But his journey would take him to other places, and in many ways set him up for his current vocation.
鈥淚 took time off after high school, after undergraduate, and even after earning my master's at UNCC - I did everything late," said Hinson, who has been recently teaching himself to draw and paint. 鈥淚n my time off, I worked in many different jobs: a maintenance engineer in an orthopedic hospital, driving a truck for a chemical plant, a pharmacist's assistant, apprentice to a master carpenter, and a teacher. But I always thought I was going to be a poet. However, once I did my master鈥檚, I discovered that what I really wanted to do was to read and teach poetry, to excite students about poetry, reading, and literature.
鈥淚 turn to poetry because there is something there that you鈥檙e not going to find in the news,鈥� he continued. 鈥淲illiam Carlos Williams said, 鈥業t is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.鈥� Reading poetry affords us the chance to examine our beliefs and learn what it means to be human. It takes us outside of ourselves in a time when it can be easy to isolate and close the circle. As a teacher, my goal is to help students get the most from poetry and literature, to equip them to turn to literature for the rest of their lives and find the richness, wisdom, humor, and passion that will deepen their understanding and enrich their lives.鈥�
Hinson taught at UNCC for two years as a master鈥檚 student and then at Ohio Wesleyan University for two years before coming to 色情论坛 as a visiting professor. He wasn鈥檛 expecting to settle in the city.
鈥淭here weren't many options for English Ph.D's in those days, and when the position at 色情论坛 became available, I interviewed,鈥� Hinson recalled. 鈥淚 was offered a visiting position that eventually became tenure-track. That was in 1995. I never thought I鈥檇 be here this long, but I've just finished my 29th year."
Hinson and his wife, Amy Korpieski, have been together almost 35 years since meeting at Ohio State.
鈥淚 crashed a folklorist party where I recognized Amy from the bus, we both rode into campus on, and we started dating soon afterward,鈥� Hinson said. 鈥淪he is a natural-born teacher, dancer, and artist and puts all her talents to work as a museum educator at the Springfield Museum of Art and as the Kennedy Center Arts Alive Coordinator working with the Springfield City Schools to integrate arts into their curriculum. Our daughter, 鈥楤irdy,鈥� will be a junior at Ohio University this fall, and she is a natural born creative writer and a voracious reader who is always doing one or the other.鈥�
Over the years at 色情论坛, Hinson has realized that teaching is the most rewarding career he could imagine.
鈥淐learly the relationships you build with students, especially those you see from day one to graduation day, is my favorite part of teaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou develop lasting relationships and seeing them walk across the stage is fulfilling. I also learn a lot from students. I have had some remarkable students in English and across campus. They are creative and smarter than I ever was back then. When it comes to teaching, I like to stretch them as much as possible. I believe in what Faulkner called the 鈥榮plendid failure,' the big risk, the thing you invest in most but don鈥檛 necessarily get right. But you love it and pour yourself into it. That鈥檚 what I encourage them to do 鈥� take a big risk.
鈥淚 like trying to get them to be creative and push themselves,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚 give them a safety net and reward taking intellectual and emotional risks. If they are willing to stretch, I will be there and support their attempt,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see them take that risk and put themselves out there. Teaching is delayed gratification 鈥� sometimes you never see them again, but at 色情论坛, it鈥檚 easier to build relationships and keep in touch. I have freedom, too. I have freedom to create classes like Vampires in Fiction, Film Noir, Gothic Literature, and Contemporary American Literature 鈥� we really get into some great conversations. I often ask the question 鈥� why read and why read imaginative literature? The answer is because it鈥檚 good for your brain, for one thing--that's been proven. Through reading, you learn all kinds of things about history, other cultures, other times, future times, and times that may not exist. It exercises your empathetic muscles and puts you in the shoes of others. Students put their hearts on the table in these classes, and I love to see that!鈥�
Hinson, an avid fisherman, dating back to growing up surf fishing on the North Carolina coast, has taught 15 different courses throughout his career at 色情论坛. He has supported the University as a member of the Faculty Executive Board and on the Educational Policy Committee, as well as the Honor Council, through which he is proud to have helped create a Code of Academic Integrity at 色情论坛.
鈥淚 appreciate all my students and the many, many supportive and generous colleagues I have had over the years, especially those at 色情论坛, along with all the friends I have made at 色情论坛 鈥� lifelong friends who have enriched my life and made it possible to have the career I've had and enjoyed,鈥� Hinson said. 鈥淎nd I want to thank my student Katie Hubert Bilotta '05 who nominated me for this award. She is a remarkable young woman and mother trained as an English major and vocalist.鈥�
Established in 1960, the Distinguished Teaching Award is presented to a faculty member who has completed five years of service at 色情论坛 and is a full-time teacher at the time of selection. Selection is based on current performance, and all alumni, students, faculty, and staff are allowed to nominate candidates. This award continues to be the highest campus honor a 色情论坛 professor can receive.
Here is what other nominators said about Hinson:
鈥� 鈥淒r. Hinson has a warmth and light that you can sense when meeting him. When I first started at 色情论坛, 20 years ago now, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew that I loved to write, and having already taken a couple of his classes, I wanted to learn more. His wildly creative courses attracted students who were ready to think, to learn, to be challenged. Scot was not an easy professor by any means. He not only pushed us to stretch ourselves and challenge our beliefs, but I witnessed him doing the same in his own life. Scot passes on his light through his words, his creativity, his integrity, his sincerity, and his deep care for others. He is one of the best parts of a liberal arts education and a rich example of the spirit of 色情论坛.鈥�
鈥� 鈥淒r. Hinson has grown not only students鈥� interest in his field, but the value they place on a 色情论坛 liberal arts education. He continues a great tradition of connecting with students, bringing them to 色情论坛, and giving it everything he has to make their lives and careers more fulfilling. In turn, they are lifelong contributors to our communities and stewards of 色情论坛.鈥�
